Example 3.

1 Molecular and Empirical Formulas

Write empirical formulas for the compounds represented by the molecular formulas.
a. C4H8 b. B2H6 c. CCl4

Solution
To determine the empirical formula from a molecular formula, divide the subscripts by the greatest common
factor (the largest number that divides exactly into all of the subscripts).
a. For C4H8, the greatest common factor is 4. The empirical formula is therefore CH 2.
b. For B2H6, the greatest common factor is 2. The empirical formula is therefore BH 3.
c. For CCl4, the only common factor is 1, so the empirical formula and the molecular formula are identical.

For Practice 3.1

Write the empirical formula for the compounds represented by each molecular formula.
a. C5H12 b. Hg2Cl2 c. C2H4O2

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Example 3.2 Classifying Substances as Atomic Elements, Molecular
Elements, Molecular Compounds, or Ionic Compounds
Classify each of the substances as an atomic element, molecular element, molecular compound, or ionic compound.
a. xenon b. NiCl2 c. bromine d. NO2 e. NaNO3

Solution
a. Xenon is an element. It is not a molecular
element (see Figure 3.5); therefore, it is an
atomic element.
b. NiCl2 is a compound composed of a metal
(nickel is on the left side of the periodic table)
and nonmetal (chlorine is on the right side of the
periodic table); therefore, it is an ionic
compound.
c. Bromine is one of the elements that exists as a
diatomic molecule (see Figure 3.5); therefore, it
is a molecular element.
d. NO2 is a compound composed of a nonmetal and
a nonmetal; therefore, it is a molecular
compound.
e. NaNO3 is a compound composed of a metal and
a polyatomic ion; therefore, it is an ionic
compound.

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Example 3.2 Classifying Substances as Atomic Elements, Molecular
Elements, Molecular Compounds, or Ionic Compounds
Continued

For Practice 3.2

Classify each of the substances as an atomic element, molecular element, molecular compound, or ionic compound.
a. fluorine b. N2O c. silver d. K2O e. Fe2O3

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Example 3.3 Writing Formulas for Ionic Compounds
Write the formula for the ionic compound that forms between aluminum and oxygen.

How To
Write Formulas for Ionic Compounds

Solution
Step 1 Write the symbol for the metal cation and its charge followed by the symbol for the nonmetal anion and its
charge. Determine charges from the element’s group number in the periodic table (refer to Figure 2.13).
Al3+ O2–

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Example 3.3 Writing Formulas for Ionic Compounds
Continued

Step 2 Adjust the subscript on each cation and anion to balance the overall charge.

Step 3 Check that the sum of the charges of the cations equals the sum of the charges of the anions.
cations: 2(3+) = 6+
anions: 3(2–) = 6–
The charges cancel.

For Practice 3.3

Write the formula for the compound formed between potassium and sulfur.

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Example 3.4 Writing Formulas for Ionic Compounds
Write the formula for the ionic compound that forms between calcium and oxygen.

How To
Write Formulas for Ionic Compounds

Solution
Step 1 Write the symbol for the metal cation and its charge followed by the symbol for the nonmetal anion and its
charge. Determine charges from the element’s group number in the periodic table (refer to Figure 2.13).
Ca2+ O2–

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Example 3.4 Writing Formulas for Ionic Compounds
Continued

Step 2 Adjust the subscript on each cation and anion to balance the overall charge.

Step 3 Check that the sum of the charges of the cations equals the sum of the charges of the anions.
cations: 2+
anions: 2–
The charges cancel.

For Practice 3.4

Write the formula for the compound formed between aluminum and nitrogen.

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Example 3.5 Naming Ionic Compounds Containing a Metal That
Forms Only One Type of Cation
Name the compound CaBr2.

Solution
The cation is calcium. The anion is from bromine, which becomes bromide.
The correct name is calcium bromide.

For Practice 3.5

Name the compound Ag3N.

For More Practice 3.5

Write the formula for rubidium sulfide.

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Example 3.6 Naming Ionic Compounds Containing a Metal That
Forms More Than One Kind of Cation
Name the compound PbCl4.

Solution
The charge on Pb must be 4+ for the compound to be charge-neutral with four Cl – anions. The name for PbCl4 is the
name of the cation, lead, followed by the charge of the cation in parentheses (IV) and the base name of the anion,
chlor, with the ending -ide. The full name is lead(IV) chloride.
PbCl4 lead(IV) chloride

For Practice 3.6

Name the compound FeS.

For More Practice 3.6

Write the formula for ruthenium(IV) oxide.

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Example 3.7 Naming Ionic Compounds That Contain a
Polyatomic Ion
Name the compound Li2Cr2O7.

Solution
The name for Li2Cr2O7 is the name of the cation, lithium, followed by the name of the polyatomic ion, dichromate.
Its full name is lithium dichromate.
Li2Cr2O7 lithium dichromate

For Practice 3.7

Name the compound Sn(ClO3)2.

For More Practice 3.7

Write the formula for cobalt(II) phosphate.

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Example 3.8 Naming Molecular Compounds
Name each compound.
a. NI3 b. PCl5 c. P4S10

Solution
a. The name of the compound is the name of the first element, nitrogen, followed by the base name of the second
element, iod, prefixed by tri- to indicate three and given the suffix -ide.

NI3 nitrogen triiodide

b. The name of the compound is the name of the first element, phosphorus, followed by the base name of the
second element, chlor, prefixed by penta- to indicate five and given the suffix -ide.

PCl5 phosphorus pentachloride

c. The name of the compound is the name of the first element, phosphorus, prefixed by tetra- to indicate four,
followed by the base name of the second element, sulf, prefixed by deca- to indicate ten and given the suffix -
ide.

P4S10 tetraphosphorus decasulfide

For Practice 3.8

Name the compound N2O5.

For More Practice 3.8

Write the formula for phosphorus tribromide.

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Example 3.9 Naming Binary Acids
Name the acid HI(aq).

Solution
The base name of I is iod, so HI(aq) is hydroiodic acid.
HI(aq) hydroiodic acid

For Practice 3.9

Name the acid HF(aq).

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Example 3.10 Naming Oxyacids
Name the acid HC2H3O2(aq).

Solution
The oxyanion is acetate, which ends in -ate; therefore, the name of the acid is acetic acid.
HC2H3O2(aq) acetic acid

For Practice 3.10

Name the acid HNO2(aq).

For More Practice 3.10

Write the formula for perchloric acid.

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Example 3.11 Using the Nomenclature Flow Chart to Name
Compounds
Use the flowchart in Figure 3.11 to name each compound.
a. SO2 b. HClO4(aq) c. CoF2

Solution
a. SO2
Begin by determining whether the compound is ionic, molecular, or an acid. SO 2 contains only nonmetals;
therefore it is molecular.

Name the compound as the name of the first element, sulfur (no prefix since the prefix is dropped for mono),
followed by the base name of the second element, ox, prefixed by di- to indicate two, and given the suffix -ide.

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Example 3.11 Using the Nomenclature Flow Chart to Name
Compounds
Continued
b. HClO4(aq)
Begin by determining whether the compound is ionic, molecular, or an
acid. Since HClO4(aq) contains H and one more nonmetal and is
designated as aqueous, it is an acid.
Next determine whether the acid contains oxygen. Since HClO 4
contains oxygen, it is an oxyacid.
Then determine whether the name of the oxyanion ends in -ate or -ite.
Since the oxyanion is perchlorate, it ends in -ate.
Finally, name the acid as the base name of the oxyanion, perchlor, with
the ending -ic, followed by the word acid.

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Example 3.11 Using the Nomenclature Flow Chart to Name
Compounds
Continued
c. CoF2
Begin by determining whether the compound is ionic, molecular, or an acid. Since CoF 2 contains a metal and a
nonmetal, it is ionic.
Next refer to Figure 3.7 to determine whether the metal forms one type of ion or more than one type. Since Co is
not listed in Figure 3.7, it must form more than one type of ion.
Name the compound as the name of the cation, cobalt, followed by the charge of the cation in parentheses (II),
and the base name of the anion, fluor, with the ending -ide.

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Example 3.11 Using the Nomenclature Flow Chart to Name
Compounds
Continued

For Practice 3.11

Use the flowchart in Figure 3.11 to name H 2SO3(aq).

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Example 3.12 Calculating Formula Mass
Calculate the formula mass of glucose, C 6H12O6.

Solution
To find the formula mass, add the atomic masses of each atom in the chemical formula.

For Practice 3.12

Calculate the formula mass of calcium nitrate.

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Example 3.13 The Mole Concept—Converting between Mass and
Number of Molecules
An aspirin tablet contains 325 mg of acetylsalicylic acid (C 9H8O4). How many acetylsalicylic acid molecules
does it contain?
Sort
You are given the mass of acetylsalicylic acid and asked to find the number of molecules.
Given: 325 mg C9H8O4
Find: number of C9H8O4 molecules

Strategize
First convert to moles (using the molar mass of the compound) and then to number of molecules (using Avogadro’s
number). You need both the molar mass of acetylsalicylic acid and Avogadro’s number as conversion factors. You
also need the conversion factor between g and mg.

Conceptual Plan

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Example 3.13 The Mole Concept—Converting between Mass and
Number of Molecules
Continued
Relationships Used
C9H8O4 molar mass = 9(12.01) + 8(1.008) + 4(16.00)
= 180.15 g/mol
6.022 × 10 = 1 mol
23

1 mg = 10–3 g
Solve
Follow the conceptual plan to solve the problem.

Solution

Check
The units of the answer, C9H8O4 molecules, are correct. The magnitude is smaller than Avogadro’s number, as
expected, since you have less than 1 molar mass of acetylsalicylic acid.

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Example 3.13 The Mole Concept—Converting between Mass and
Number of Molecules
Continued

For Practice 3.13

Find the number of ibuprofen molecules in a tablet containing 200.0 mg of ibuprofen (C 13H18O2).

For More Practice 3.13

Determine the mass of a sample of water containing 3.55 × 1022 H2O molecules

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Example 3.14 Mass Percent Composition
Calculate the mass percent of Cl in Freon-112 (C 2Cl4F2), a CFC refrigerant.

Sort
You are given the molecular formula of Freon-112 and asked to find the mass percent of Cl.
Given: C2Cl4F2
Find: mass percent Cl
Strategize
The molecular formula tells you that there are 4 mol of Cl in each mole of Freon-112. Find the mass percent
composition from the chemical formula by using the equation that defines mass percent. The conceptual plan shows
you how to use the mass of Cl in 1 mol of C 2Cl4F2 and the molar mass of C2Cl4F2 to find the mass percent of Cl.

Conceptual Plan

Relationships Used

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Example 3.14 Mass Percent Composition
Continued

Solve
Calculate the necessary parts of the equation and substitute the values into the equation to find mass percent Cl.

Solution

Check
The units of the answer (%) are correct. The magnitude is reasonable because it is between 0 and 100% and chlorine
is the heaviest atom in the molecule and there are four atoms of it.

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Example 3.14 Mass Percent Composition
Continued

For Practice 3.14

Acetic acid (HC2H3O2) is the active ingredient in vinegar. Calculate the mass percent composition of oxygen in acetic
acid.

For More Practice 3.14

Calculate the mass percent composition of sodium in sodium oxide.

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Example 3.15 Using Mass Percent Composition as a
Conversion Factor
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that an adult consume less than 2.4 g of sodium per
day. What mass of sodium chloride (in grams) can you consume and still be within the FDA guidelines? Sodium
chloride is 39% sodium by mass.

Sort
You are given a mass of sodium and the mass percent of sodium in sodium chloride. You are asked to find the mass
of NaCl that contains the given mass of sodium.
Given: 2.4 g Na
Find: g NaCl
Strategize
Convert between mass of a constituent element and mass of a compound by using mass percent composition as a
conversion factor.
Conceptual Plan

Relationships Used
39 g Na: 100 g NaCl

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Example 3.15 Using Mass Percent Composition as a
Conversion Factor
Continued

Solve
Follow the conceptual plan to solve the problem.

Solution

You can consume 6.2 g NaCl and still be within the FDA guidelines.

Check
The units of the answer are correct. The magnitude seems reasonable because it is
larger than the amount of sodium, as expected, because sodium is only one of the
elements in NaCl.

For Practice 3.15

What mass (in grams) of iron(III) oxide contains 58.7 g of iron? Iron(III) oxide is
69.94% iron by mass.

For More Practice 3.15 12.5 packets of salt

If someone consumes 22 g of sodium chloride per day, what mass (in grams) of
sodium does that person consume? Sodium chloride is 39% sodium by mass.
contain 6.2 g of NaCl.

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Example 3.16 Chemical Formulas as Conversion Factors
Hydrogen may be used in the future to replace gasoline as a fuel. Most major automobile companies are developing
vehicles that run on hydrogen. These cars have the potential to be less environmentally harmful than our current
vehicles because their only emission is water vapor. One way to obtain hydrogen for fuel is to use an emission-free
energy source such as wind power to form elemental hydrogen from water. What mass of hydrogen (in grams) is
contained in 1.00 gallon of water? (The density of water is 1.00 g/mL.)

Sort
You are given a volume of water and asked to find the mass of hydrogen it contains. You are also given the density
of water.
Given: 1.00 gal H2O

Find: g H

Strategize
The first part of the conceptual plan shows how to convert the units of volume from gallons to liters and then to mL.
It also shows how to use the density to convert mL to g.

The second part of the conceptual plan is the basic sequence:

Convert between moles and mass using the appropriate molar masses, and convert from mol H 2O to mol H using the
conversion factor derived from the molecular formula.

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Example 3.16 Chemical Formulas as Conversion Factors
Continued

Conceptual Plan

Relationships Used
3.785 L = 1 gal
1000 mL = 1 L
1.00 g H2O = 1 mL H2O (density of H2O)
Molar mass H2O = 2(1.008) + 16.00 = 18.02 g/mol
2 mol H : 1 mol H2O
1.008 g H = 1 mol H

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Example 3.16 Chemical Formulas as Conversion Factors
Continued

Solve
Follow the conceptual plan to solve the problem.

Solution

Check
The units of the answer (g H) are correct. Since a gallon of water is about 3.8 L, its mass is about 3.8 kg. H is a light
atom, so its mass should be significantly less than 3.8 kg, which it is in the answer.

For Practice 3.16

Determine the mass of oxygen in a 7.2-g sample of Al 2(SO4)3.

For More Practice 3.16

Butane (C4H10) is the liquid fuel in lighters. How many grams of carbon are present within a lighter containing
7.25 mL of butane? (The density of liquid butane is 0.601 g/mL.)

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Example 3.17 Obtaining an Empirical Formula from
Experimental Data
A compound containing nitrogen and oxygen is decomposed in the laboratory. It produces 24.5 g nitrogen and
70.0 g oxygen. Calculate the empirical formula of the compound.

How To
Obtain an Empirical Formula from Experimental Data

Solution
Step 1 Write down (or calculate) as given the masses of each element present in a sample of the compound. If you
are given mass percent composition, assume a 100-g sample and calculate the masses of each element
from the given percentages.
Given: 24.5 g N, 70.0 g O
Find: empirical formula

Step 2 Convert each of the masses in step 1 to moles by using the appropriate molar mass for each element as a
conversion factor.

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Example 3.17 Obtaining an Empirical Formula from
Experimental Data
Continued
Step 3 Write down a pseudoformula for the compound using the number of moles of each element (from step 2)
as subscripts.
N1.75O4.38

Step 4 Divide all the subscripts in the formula by the smallest subscript.

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Example 3.17 Obtaining an Empirical Formula from
Experimental Data
Continued
Step 5 If the subscripts are not whole numbers, multiply all the subscripts by a small whole number (see table) to
get whole-number subscripts.

The correct empirical formula is N 2O5.

For Practice 3.17

A sample of a compound is decomposed in the laboratory and produces 165 g carbon, 27.8 g hydrogen, and 220.2 g
oxygen. Calculate the empirical formula of the compound.

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Example 3.18 Obtaining an Empirical Formula from
Experimental Data
A laboratory analysis of aspirin determines the following mass percent composition:
C 60.00% ; H 4.48% ; O 35.52%
Find the empirical formula.

How To
Obtain an Empirical Formula from Experimental Data

Solution
Step 1 Write down (or calculate) as given the masses of each element present in a sample of the compound. If you
are given mass percent composition, assume a 100-g sample and calculate the masses of each element
from the given percentages.
Given: In a 100-g sample: 60.00 g C, 4.48 g H, 35.52 g O
Find: empirical formula

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Example 3.18 Obtaining an Empirical Formula from
Experimental Data
Continued
Step 2 Convert each of the masses in step 1 to moles by using the appropriate molar mass for each element as a
conversion factor.

Step 3 Write down a pseudoformula for the compound using the number of moles of each element (from step 2)
as subscripts.
C4.996H4.44O2.220

Step 4 Divide all the subscripts in the formula by the smallest subscript.

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Example 3.18 Obtaining an Empirical Formula from
Experimental Data
Continued
Step 5 If the subscripts are not whole numbers, multiply all the subscripts by a small whole number (see table) to
get whole-number subscripts.

The correct empirical formula is C 9H8O4.

For Practice 3.18

Ibuprofen has the following mass percent composition:
C 75.69%, H 8.80%, O 15.51%.
What is the empirical formula of ibuprofen?

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Example 3.19 Determining a Molecular Formula from an
Empirical Formula and Molar Mass
Butanedione—the component responsible for the smell and taste of butter and cheese—contains the elements carbon,
hydrogen, and oxygen. The empirical formula of butanedione is C 2H3O, and its molar mass is 86.09 g/mol. Determine
its molecular formula.
Sort
You are given the empirical formula and molar mass of butanedione and asked to find the molecular formula.
Given: Empirical formula = C2H3O
molar mass = 86.09 g/mol
Find: molecular formula
Strategize
A molecular formula is always a whole-number multiple of the empirical formula. Divide the molar mass by the
empirical formula molar mass to find the whole number.
Molecular formula = empirical formula × n

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Example 3.19 Determining a Molecular Formula from an
Empirical Formula and Molar Mass
Continued

Solve
Calculate the empirical formula mass.
Divide the molar mass by the empirical formula mass to find n.
Multiply the empirical formula by n to obtain the molecular formula.

Check
Check the answer by calculating the molar mass of the formula as follows:
4(12.01 g/mol) + 6(1.008 g/mol) + 2(16.00 g/mol) = 86.09 g/mol
The calculated molar mass is in agreement with the given molar mass.

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Example 3.19 Determining a Molecular Formula from an
Empirical Formula and Molar Mass
Continued

For Practice 3.19

A compound has the empirical formula CH and a molar mass of 78.11 g/mol. What is its molecular formula?

For More Practice 3.19

Determine the molecular formula for the compound with a molar mass of 60.10 g/mol and the following percent
composition:
C, 39.97%
H, 13.41%
N, 46.62%

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Example 3.20 Determining an Empirical Formula from
Combustion Analysis
Upon combustion, a compound containing only carbon and hydrogen produces 1.83 g CO 2 and 0.901 g H2O. Find the
empirical formula of the compound.

How To
Determine an Empirical Formula from Combustion Analysis

Step 1 Write down as given the masses of each combustion product and the mass of the sample (if given).
Given: 1.83 g CO2, 0.901 g H2O
Find: empirical formula

Step 2 Convert the masses of CO2 and H2O from step 1 to moles by using the appropriate molar mass for
each compound as a conversion factor.

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Example 3.20 Determining an Empirical Formula from
Combustion Analysis
Continued
Step 3 Convert the moles of CO2 and moles of H2O from step 2 to moles of C and moles of H using the
conversion factors inherent in the chemical formulas of CO 2 and H2O.

Step 4 If the compound contains an element other than C and H, find the mass of the other element by
subtracting the sum of the masses of C and H from the mass of the sample.
Finally, convert the mass of the other element to moles.

The sample contains no elements other than C and H, so proceed to the next step.

Step 5 Write down a pseudoformula for the compound using the number of moles of each element (from
steps 3 and 4) as subscripts.
C0.0416H0.100

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Example 3.20 Determining an Empirical Formula from
Combustion Analysis
Continued
Step 6 Divide all the subscripts in the formula by the smallest subscript. (Round all subscripts that are within
0.1 of a whole number.)

Step 7 If the subscripts are not whole numbers, multiply all the subscripts by a small whole number to get
whole-number subscripts.
C1H2.4 × 5 C5H 12
The correct empirical formula is C 5H 12.

For Practice 3.20

Upon combustion, a compound containing only carbon and hydrogen produces 1.60 g CO 2 and 0.819 g H2O. Find
the empirical formula of the compound.

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Example 3.21 Determining an Empirical Formula from
Combustion Analysis
Upon combustion, a 0.8233-g sample of a compound containing only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen produces 2.445 g
CO2 and 0.6003 g H2O. Find the empirical formula of the compound.

How To
Determine an Empirical Formula from Combustion Analysis

Step 1 Write down as given the masses of each combustion product and the mass of the sample (if given).
Given: 0.8233-g sample, 2.445 g CO2, 0.6003 g H2O
Find: empirical formula

Step 2 Convert the masses of CO2 and H2O from step 1 to moles by using the appropriate molar mass for
each compound as a conversion factor.

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Example 3.21 Determining an Empirical Formula from
Combustion Analysis
Continued
Step 3 Convert the moles of CO2 and moles of H2O from step 2 to moles of C and moles of H using the
conversion factors inherent in the chemical formulas of CO 2 and H2O.

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Example 3.21 Determining an Empirical Formula from
Combustion Analysis
Continued
Step 4 If the compound contains an element other than C and H, find the mass of the other element by
subtracting the sum of the masses of C and H from the mass of the sample.
Finally, convert the mass of the other element to moles.

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Example 3.21 Determining an Empirical Formula from
Combustion Analysis
Continued
Step 5 Write down a pseudoformula for the compound using the number of moles of each element (from
steps 3 and 4) as subscripts.
C0.05556H0.06662O0.00556

Step 6 Divide all the subscripts in the formula by the smallest subscript. (Round all subscripts that are within
0.1 of a whole number.)

Step 7 If the subscripts are not whole numbers, multiply all the subscripts by a small whole number to get whole-
number subscripts.
The subscripts are whole numbers; no additional multiplication is needed. The correct empirical formula is
C10H12O.

For Practice 3.21

Upon combustion, a 0.8009-g sample of a compound containing only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen produces
1.6004 g CO2 and 0.6551 g H2O. Find the empirical formula of the compound.

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